simplistic (adjective)

simplistic (adjective)Variants: simplistically (adverb)Definition: oversimplified; avoiding or ignoring complexitiesSynonym: unsophisticated, naiveAntonym: sophisticated, complicatedHis simplistic plan for economic improvement failed to account for foreign investment and the GNP.

incredulous (adjective)Variants: incredulously (adverb); incredulousness (noun)Definition: unwilling or unable to believe; showing disbeliefSynonym: skepticalAntonym: credulous, gullibleThe politicians lavish promises provoked incredulous responses rather than the admiration he sought.

ascetic (adjective) Variants: ascetically (adverb)Definition: Reflecting self-denial (as in religious discipline); choosing minimal comfortsSynonyms: austere, SpartanAntonym: self-indulgent, hedonisticHer modest room reflected the ascetic values she advocated.

vicarious (adjective)vicariously (adverb), vicariousness (noun)Definition: Experienced through someone else rather than first hand; endured as substitute for someone else; delegatedsynonym: second-hand [experience]antonym: actual [experience]Because she loved her son, she found vicarious pleasure in his tremendous successes.

allocation (noun)Variants: allocate (verb), allocatable (adjective); allocator (noun)Definition: the act of setting aside for a special purpose; designationSynonym: allotment, apportionmentAntonym: abandonmentSentence: The mayor insisted the park district include an allocation of land in order to build a playground.The mayor insisted the parked district allocate land for a playground.

admonish (transitive verb)Variants: admonishment (noun)Definition: To caution, criticize, or counsel gently againstSynonym: chastise, reproach, rebukeAntonym: approve, commend, praiseThe anti-tobacco lobbyist admonished the President for his inability to quit smoking.

presumptuous (adjective)presumptuously (adv.), presumptuousness (noun)overconfident, excessively forward, taking too much for grantedSyn: arrogantAnt: humble, modestDarcys presumptuous manner understandably offends Elizabeth Bennet. subversive (adjective,noun)variants: subvert (verb), subversively (adverb)Definition: tending or seeking to subvert, overthrow or destroy (an established government, institution, belief, etc)Synonym: rebellious, disloyalAntonym: loyal, faithfulSentence: The Canadian governmentindeed, the majority of Canadian citizensbelieved the Nisei to be subversive operatives.

vacuous (adjective)Variants: vacuously (adverb)Definition: without contents, emptySynonym: bare, blank, devoidAntonym: full, abundantSentence: When the class looked at her with vacuous stares, the teacher knew the lesson had failed. avocation (noun)Variants: avocational (adjective)Definition: something a person does in addition to a principal occupation, especially for pleasureSynonym: pastime, hobbyAntonym: job, occupationSentence: Oddly enough, the math teachers avocation was the study of Old Norse epics.impetus (noun)Variants: Definition: a moving force; impulse, stimulusSynonym: encouragement, incentive, motivationAntonym: hindrance, blockSentence: Dr. Martin Luther Kings speeches were the impetus behind the civil rights movement.

reticent (adjective)Variants: reticently (adverb), reticence (noun)Definition: inclined to keep ones thoughts and feelings to oneself, secretive, quietSynonym: reluctant, restrained, reservedAntonym: communicative, forward, unrestrainedSentence: The reticent student hid in the back row, unwilling to participate in the class discussion.

physiognomy (noun)Variants: physiognomic (adj), physiognomically (adv)Definition: The features of somebodys face especially used as indicators of character or temperament.Synonym: aspect, look, visageAntonym: noneSentence: In Great Expectations, Pip is frightened by the convict, for his physiognomy is menacing.

insipid (adjective)Variants: insipidness (noun), insipidly (adverb)Definition: without distinctive, interesting, or stimulating qualitiesSynonym: bland, dullAntonym: exhilaratingSentence: Cauliflowers insipid taste requires cheese or spices to make it palatable.

tedium (noun)Variants: tedious (adjective), tediously (adverb)Definition: quality or condition of being wearisome or boringSynonym: dullness, monotonyAntonym: entertainment, excitement, diversionSentence: In order to take the tedium out of exercise, aerobic instructors rely on loud, exciting music.

cajole (verb)Variants: cajolery(noun), cajolingly(adverb)Definition: to persuade by flattery or promisesSynonym: wheedle, coax, flatterAntonym: bully, force, repelSentence: The boy cajoled her into giving him some of her cookies.

blas (adjective)Variants: noneDefinition: not impressed or worried by something, usually because of previous experienceSynonym: unconcerned, nonchalantAntonym: uptight, worriedSentence: Paris Hiltons blas attitude towards spending money is typical of the very wealthy: they do not have to worry about paying bills.

indolent (adjective)Variants: indolence (n), indolently (adv) Definition: Lethargic and not showing any interest. Also describes a disease that is slow to develop and causes no pain. Synonym: sluggish, apathetic, lazyAntonym: industrious, productiveSentence: It is difficult to move from summers indolence to the necessary productivity of the school year.

choleric (adjective)Variants: choler (noun)*, cholerically (adverb) *NOT cholerathats a disease!Definition: showing or tending to show anger or irritation Synonym: bad-tempered, irascibleAntonym: phlegmatic, impassiveSentence: Ivan Ilyichs choleric manner intimidates his family.

phlegmatic (adjective)Variants: phlegmatically (adverb)Definition: unemotional, difficult to excite to action or display of emotion synonym: indifferent, undemonstrativeantonym: energetic, livelySentence: Obasans phlegmatic approach to life irritates the crusading Emily.

impasse (noun )Variants: noneDefinition: predicament from which there is no escape; impassible road or waySynonym: stalemate, deadlockAntonym: progressSentence: After days of deliberation, the jury reached an impasse, necessitating a new trial.

adulation (noun)Variants: adulate (verb)Definition: excessive flattery or adorationSynonym: obsequiousness, sycophancyAntonym: insult, offenseSentence: Robert Pattinson is the object of young girls adulation.

censure (noun, verb)Variants: censure (transitive verb)Definition: judgment involving condemnation Synonym: rebuke, reproachAntonym: honor, acclamationSentence: Following the lawyers emotional outburst, the judge had no choice but to censure him.

dissimulation (noun)Variants: dissimulate (verb), dissimulative (adjective), dissimulator (noun)Definition: act of deceiving/concealing true feelings and intentionssynonym: deception, deceit, disguise, dissemblingantonym: frankness, honesty, truthfulness Sentence: As he becomes more desperately ill, Ivan Ilyich finds dissimulation more difficult, and his family is frightened by the anger he reveals.droll (adjective)variants: droller, drollest (more adjectives), drolly (adverb)definition: humorous, amusing in an odd waysynonym: amusing, clownish, comicalantonym: serioussentence: The professor entertained the class with his droll impersonations of literary characters.

expectorate (verb)variants: expectoration (noun), expectorant (noun)definition: to expel matter, esp. phlegmsynonym: flush out, ejectantonym: inject, inhale, consumesentence: The doctor instructed the patient to expectorate regularly to speed healing.

surfeit (noun)variants: surfeiter (I have never seen this!) definition: too great an amount or supply; excess; overindulgence, esp. in food or drinksynonym: satiate, excess, surplus antonym: deficit, insufficiency sentence: In the childs opinion, his plate held a surfeit of vegetables.

corroborate (trans. verb)variants: corroboration, corroborative, corroborantdefinition: to make more certain the validity of, confirm, supportsynonym: confirm, support, substantiateantonym: contradictSentence: To corroborate the rumor about Malfoy, the trio made a Polyjuice potion.

morose (adjective)variants: moroseness, moroselydefinition: ill-tempered, gloomy, sullensynonym: glum, gloomy, depressedantonym: happy, cheerfulsentence: The students were morose when the teacher returned their tests.

auspicious (adjective)variants: auspiciously (adv), auspiciousness (n)definition: favored by fortunesynonym: fortunate, prosperousantonym: ominous, unfortunate Sentence: The couple was married on 09/09/09, as they believed the date to be an auspicious one.vigilance (noun)variants: vigilant (adjective) vigilantly (adverb)definition: keenly watchful to detect danger; warysynonym: observant, attentiveantonym: negligent, carelessSentence: The watchmen needed to remain vigilant to protect their camp from any surprise attacks.The vigilance of the watchmen protected the camp from ambush.

recourse (noun)variants: nonedefinition: that which one turns to for help in desperationsynonym: refuge, resortantonym: sentence: Is Harry Potters only recourse self-sacrifice?

equivocal (adjective)variants: equivocalness (n), equivocally (adv), equivocation (n)definition: allowing the possibility of multiple meanings, susceptible to double interpretationssynonym: ambiguous, dubious, questionable, suspiciousantonym: unquestionable, definite, clearsentence: The politicians speech was so equivocal, and it made it impossible for the electorate to determine his stance on the issue. dubious (adjective)variants: dubiously (adverb), dubiousness (noun)definition: full of doubt or uncertaintysynonym: doubtful, questionable, unsureantonym: certain, definite, sure, trustworthysentence: He enjoyed the dubious distinction of having the lowest GPA of the graduating class.

corporeal (adjective)variants: corporeality (noun); corporeally (adverb)definition: the physical body; material or physical rather than spiritualsynonym: bodily, physicalantonym: mental, spiritualsentence: The doctor examined the corporeal remains for clues to its identity.

chasten (verb)variants: chastener (n)definition: to punish in order to correct or make better; chastise; subdue; refine as to make purersynonym: punish, discipline, correctantonym: commend, praiseSentence: The sadistic headmaster chastened errant students with a leather strap.

resolute (adjective)variants: resolutely (adverb), resoluteness (noun)definition: having or showing a fixed, firm purpose; determined; unwaveringsynonym: faithful, unyieldingantonym: uncertain, unsuresentence: The Second Apparition advises Macbeth to be bloody, bold and resolute for only a man not of woman born can harm him.

languid (adjective)variants: languidness (n), languidly (adv)definition: without vigor or vitality; without spirit or interest synonym: weak; listless; indifferent; sluggishantonym: energetic, livelysentence: His languid movements annoyed the movie director, who envisioned a violent, wild scene.

dissolute (adjective)variants: dissolutely(adverb), dissoluteness (noun)definition: dissipated and immoral; debauchedsynonym: debauched, depraved, degenerateantonym: decent, upright, moral sentence: Svidrigailovs reputation for dissolute behavior disgusts Raskolnikov.

extol (verb)variants: extoller (n); extolment (n)definition: to praise highly; laudsynonym: praise, laud, acclaimantonym: disparage, denigratesentence: Many journalists extol the virtues of our President.

amorous (adjective) variants: amorousness (n), amorously (adv)definition: full of love, showing love or sexual desire synonym: passionate, ardentantonym: detached, unlovingsentence: The amorous behavior displayed in high school hallways is often disturbing.

scrupulous (adjective)variants: [from scruple] scrupulously (adv), scrupulousness (n); definition: extremely careful to do the precisely right, proper or correct thing in every last detail; obsessively hesitant in deciding what is morally rightsynonym: careful, conscientious, meticulousantonym: careless, rashsentence: The scrupulous student double-checked all his essays quotations to avoid plagiarism.

ponderous (adjective)variants: ponderously (adverb), ponderousness (noun)definition: very heavy; unwieldy because of weightsynonym: heavy, weighty, dull and laboredantonym: lightsentence: Marleys Ghost tells Ebenezer Scrooge that the chain Scrooge bears is a ponderous one.

brevity (noun)related: brief (adjective), briefly (adverb)definition: the quality of being brief or concisesynonym: conciseness, tersenessantonym: lengthsentence: Brevity is the soul of wit.

deportment (noun)variants: deport (verb)definition: the manner of conducting or bearing oneselfsynonym: manner, bearing, posture, behaviorantonym: nonesentence: Because she was a mature 12 year old, the girls deportment did not accurately reflect her age.

prodigal (adjective)variants: prodigally (adverb), prodigality (noun)definition: exceedingly, recklessly wastefulsynonym: wasteful, extravagantantonym: cautious, thriftysentence: The prodigal shopper saved no money for the gas she desperately needed for her return home.

intercession (noun)related: intercede (verb), intercessional (adjective)definition: the act of interceding, pleading or prayer on behalf of anothersynonym: intervention, mediationantonym: nonesentence: The marriage counselors intercession was necessary for the fighting couple.

solicitous (adjective)variants: solicitously (adverb), solicitude (noun)definition: showing care, attention or concernsynonym: attentive, considerateantonym: uncaring, unconcernedsentence: Although it was second semester senior year, she maintained a solicitous attitude towards her grades.

primeval (adjective)variants: definition: of the earliest times or agessynonym: primordial, primal, primitiveantonym: modernsentence: Sally walked in the primeval forest, where ancient groves awed her.

deprecate (transitive verb)related: deprecatingly (adverb), deprecation (noun)definition: to feel and express disapproval ofsynonym: denounce, denigrateantonym: approve, praisesentence: The staunch Republican deprecated the policies of the Democratic Congress.

capitulate (verb)variants: capitulation (noun)definition: to surrender, especially on conditions agreed uponsynonym: acquiesce, submit, yieldantonym: stand firm, remain resolutesentence: The class proposed watching a movie, and the exhausted teacher willingly capitulated.

sardonic (adjective)variants: sardonically (adverb)definition: bitterly ironic, derisively mockingsynonym: scornful, satirical, causticantonym: respectful sentence: Despite his thirst for knowledge, the tough teenager maintained a sardonic attitude towards school when he was with his friends.

furtive (adjective)related: furtively (adverb), furtiveness (noun)definition: done by stealthsynonym: secretive, sly, surreptitiousantonym: open, directsentence: Modestly lowering her eyes, the girl continued to shoot furtive glances towards the handsome new student.

ethereal (adjective)variants: ethereally (adverb); etherealize (verb)definition: light, delicate; heavenlysynonym: unearthly, airyantonym: earthly, substantialsentence: The singers ethereal voice made it hard to believe she was a mere mortal. confound (verb)variants: confounded (adjective)definition: to mix up or lump together indiscriminately; to make feel confused; to damn: used as a mild oath synonym: puzzle, confuseantonym: clarifysentence: The rapid-fire delivery of the lecture confounded all the students.

wry (adjective)related: wryly (adverb), wryness (noun) definition: made by twisting or distorting the features (a wry face); dry, ironic (as in humor) synonym: ironic, cynicalantonym: straight-forwardsentence: Her wry expression signaled her amusement with the awkward situation.sentence: Taking his words at face value, the audience misunderstood his wry remarks.

veracity (noun)variants: veraciously (adverb); veracious (adjective)definition: habitual truthfulness; honestysynonym: truth antonym: dishonesty, falsesentence: The mans known veracity made him a reliable witness. magnanimous (adjective)variants: magnanimously (adverb), magnanimity (noun)definition: noble in mind, generous in overlooking injury or insult synonym: generous, high-mindedantonym: petty, small-mindedsentence: Darcys magnanimous efforts on Lydias behalf endears him to Elizabeth.

felicity (noun)related: felicitous (adjective), felicitously (adverb)definition: happiness, bliss; quality or knack of appropriate, pleasing expression in writing, speaking, painting, etc. synonym: joy; aptnessantonym: sorrow; inappropriatenesssentence: Her felicitous responses to the interviewers secured the job for her. Her face reflected her felicitous reaction to his proposal.

nuance (noun)variants: nuanced (adjective)definition: a slight or delicate variation in tone, color, meaningsynonym: shade of difference, hintantonym: one-dimensionalsentence: The nuances of literature are often only appreciated by those who read widely.

malady (noun)variants: definition: disease, illness (often used figuratively)synonym: sickness, problemantonym: healthsentence: Ivan Ilyichs malady is his unhealthy obsession with social standing.

corpulent (adjective)related: corpulence (noun), corpulently (adverb)definition: fat and fleshysynonym: obeseantonym: slimsentence: Mitch urged his corpulent teacher to be a contestant on The Biggest Loser.

brazen (adjective)variants: brazenly (adverb); brazenness (noun)definition: showing no shame; like brass in color or other qualitiessynonym: impudent, shamelessantonym: timid, diffidentsentence: She made brazen overtures to a man who hadnt a friend in this town, until she came here!

exonerate (verb)variants: exoneration (noun); exonerative (adjective)definition: to relieve of (a duty, an obligation); to free from a charge or the imputation of guiltsynonym: absolve, vindicateantonym: condemn, blamesentence: Having heard no persuasive evidence, the jury exonerated the suspect.

inscrutable (adjective)related: inscrutability (noun), inscrutably (adverb)definition: not easily understood; unfathomablesynonym: mysterious, enigmaticantonym: easily understood, transparentsentence: Her inscrutable expression baffled her husband, who could not figure out the appropriate response.

inundate (verb)variants: inundation (noun)definition: to flood; to overwhelm someone with a huge quantity of duties, chores, responsibilities, etc. synonym: flood, deluge, overwhelmantonym: sentence: Following his victory, Obamas campaign headquarters was inundated with job applications.

epistle (noun)related: epistolary (adjective) definition: letter, usually a formal one; literary work in the form of a lettersynonym: letter, missiveantonym: sentence: Pompous Mr. Collins promises to send a speedy epistle to thank the Bennets for their hospitality.

jocund (adjective)related: jocundly(adverb), jocundity (noun) definition: cheerfulsynonym: cheerful, genialantonym: grumpy sentence: Razumikhins jocund manner uplifts others spirits and endears him to most characters.

resplendent (adjective)related: resplendence (noun), resplendently (adverb)definition: shining brightly, full of splendorsynonym: dazzling, splendidantonym: dullsentence: In the distance, on a hilltop, stood the resplendent castle known as Camelot.

affront (trans. verb.; noun)related: nonedefinition: to insult openly or purposely; an open or intentional insultsynonym: offend, insultantonym: compliment, praisesentence: Milkmans affront to Hagars self esteem was more than she could bear.torrid (adjective)related: torridness (noun); torridly (adverb)definition: 1) dried by or subjected to intense heat, esp. of the sun; 2) highly passionatesynonym: 1) scorching; 2) ardentantonym: 1) temperate; 2) coolsentence: 1) The only sensible response to the torrid afternoon was a lengthy nap in the cool shade. 2)The students were shocked by the authors graphic depiction of the torrid affair.

vexation (noun)related: vex (verb); vexatious (adjective) definition: something that causes annoyance or distresssynonym: annoyance, aggravationantonym: satisfactionsentence: A series of vexationsalarm clock failure, misplaced keys, frozen garage doormade him late for work.